Army Spc Anderson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Stewart, Georgia; stationed at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, Georgia. When Marc was born, the doctor told his parents the baby was so strong, they should give him a strong name. So they borrowed from Roman times and named him Marc Anthony. When Marc was killed, he left a legacy as daunting as his name. He was an All American in football and track (NCAA) and was the 1995 Florida State student athlete of the year. He graduated from Florida State University with a teaching degree and taught math in Fort Myers before joining the Army. He tutored his students for free and volunteered with Boys/Girls clubs in the summer. Marc joined the Army in 1998 because he needed help paying off his student loan. He entered the Army at about 265 lbs. and was a Ranger at 6'2", 230 pounds. Marc was given the opportunity to stay in the U.S. during the Operation to be with his sick brother but he refused to leave many Brothers for his one Brother. He was killed during a vicious firefight with the enemy while attempting to recover the body of a fallen Navy SEAL, Neil Roberts. Marc left $12,000 to a former student to help pay for her college.
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On this date March 4 in 2002 U.S.Army Spec. Marc A. Anderson was killed during the Battle of Takur Ghar, in Afghanistan.
Initially the objective was to establish an observation point on Takur Ghar which commanded views of the Shahi Khowt valley. It would become a day long battle involving Navy SEALs, Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen, 1st Ranger Battalion and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
When the initial MH-47 Chinook helicopter attempted to land troops, the enemy opened up with RPG and heavy machine gun fire. An RPG hit just behind of the cockpit, starting a fire and knocking out electricity, including its miniguns.
The helicopter set down under the cover of depression, but when it lurched to rise again, @USNavy Aviation Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SEAL) Neil Roberts fell from the open ramp.
This helicopter was forced to land 7 miles from the mountain, while the other one attempted rescue. Troops offloaded successfully, and were making good progress toward Roberts, until they made contact with the enemy. During this fight, @AirForce Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, and two SEALs were wounded. As the force broke contact, a quick reaction force was dispatched from Bagram Air Base. Spec. Anderson, as part of the 1st Ranger Battalion was part of this force. With the Rangers were Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen.
Communications difficulties lead to the force being direct to the hot landing zone.The circling C-130 gunship was unaware that more troops were incoming. It departed before they arrived, due to restrictions on day-time operations.
As the first helicopter came in, it also faced intense fire from heavy machine gun, RPG and small arms. The door gunner was killed, and both pilots seriously injured. The helicopter crash landed, troops exiting the ramp. Three rangers were killed exiting the aircraft, Pfc. Matt Commons, Sgt Brad Crose died on the helicopter ramp. Anderson died inside the helicopter.
The second helicopter offloaded it's Rangers further down the mountain, but they were blocked halfway to the other group when they encountered an enemy bunker. In the first use of a Predator UAV in combat, it launched a Hellfire missile collapsing the bunker.
14 Rangers were then able to clear the mountain, struggling through knee deep snow. At 8 p.m. that night, all were evacuated. The battle had lasted 18 hours.
Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, who was killed in a counterattack, Chapman and Tech Sgt. Keary Miller were awarded the Air Force Cross. In 2008 Chapman and Senior Chief Special Operator (SEAL) Britt Slabinki were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Anderson attended Florida State University, excelling in track and field. At 6'2" 230 lbs., the Alliance, Ohio native competed in hammer throw, shot put, and discus, in addition to playing football.
He graduated with a degree in math and teaching and had been teaching math in Fort Myers, Florida before he joined the Army to pay off his college debt.
He left $12,000 to a former student to help them pay for college.
Specialist Marc Anthony Anderson is interred at Florida National Cemetery. He was 30.
*Additional bio information courtesy of Find A Grave contributor George Bacon.
**********
On this date March 4 in 2002 U.S.Army Spec. Marc A. Anderson was killed during the Battle of Takur Ghar, in Afghanistan.
Initially the objective was to establish an observation point on Takur Ghar which commanded views of the Shahi Khowt valley. It would become a day long battle involving Navy SEALs, Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen, 1st Ranger Battalion and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
When the initial MH-47 Chinook helicopter attempted to land troops, the enemy opened up with RPG and heavy machine gun fire. An RPG hit just behind of the cockpit, starting a fire and knocking out electricity, including its miniguns.
The helicopter set down under the cover of depression, but when it lurched to rise again, @USNavy Aviation Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SEAL) Neil Roberts fell from the open ramp.
This helicopter was forced to land 7 miles from the mountain, while the other one attempted rescue. Troops offloaded successfully, and were making good progress toward Roberts, until they made contact with the enemy. During this fight, @AirForce Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, and two SEALs were wounded. As the force broke contact, a quick reaction force was dispatched from Bagram Air Base. Spec. Anderson, as part of the 1st Ranger Battalion was part of this force. With the Rangers were Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen.
Communications difficulties lead to the force being direct to the hot landing zone.The circling C-130 gunship was unaware that more troops were incoming. It departed before they arrived, due to restrictions on day-time operations.
As the first helicopter came in, it also faced intense fire from heavy machine gun, RPG and small arms. The door gunner was killed, and both pilots seriously injured. The helicopter crash landed, troops exiting the ramp. Three rangers were killed exiting the aircraft, Pfc. Matt Commons, Sgt Brad Crose died on the helicopter ramp. Anderson died inside the helicopter.
The second helicopter offloaded it's Rangers further down the mountain, but they were blocked halfway to the other group when they encountered an enemy bunker. In the first use of a Predator UAV in combat, it launched a Hellfire missile collapsing the bunker.
14 Rangers were then able to clear the mountain, struggling through knee deep snow. At 8 p.m. that night, all were evacuated. The battle had lasted 18 hours.
Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, who was killed in a counterattack, Chapman and Tech Sgt. Keary Miller were awarded the Air Force Cross. In 2008 Chapman and Senior Chief Special Operator (SEAL) Britt Slabinki were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Anderson attended Florida State University, excelling in track and field. At 6'2" 230 lbs., the Alliance, Ohio native competed in hammer throw, shot put, and discus, in addition to playing football.
He graduated with a degree in math and teaching and had been teaching math in Fort Myers, Florida before he joined the Army to pay off his college debt.
He left $12,000 to a former student to help them pay for college.
Specialist Marc Anthony Anderson is interred at Florida National Cemetery. He was 30.
*Additional bio information courtesy of Find A Grave contributor George Bacon.
Army Spc Anderson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Stewart, Georgia; stationed at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, Georgia. When Marc was born, the doctor told his parents the baby was so strong, they should give him a strong name. So they borrowed from Roman times and named him Marc Anthony. When Marc was killed, he left a legacy as daunting as his name. He was an All American in football and track (NCAA) and was the 1995 Florida State student athlete of the year. He graduated from Florida State University with a teaching degree and taught math in Fort Myers before joining the Army. He tutored his students for free and volunteered with Boys/Girls clubs in the summer. Marc joined the Army in 1998 because he needed help paying off his student loan. He entered the Army at about 265 lbs. and was a Ranger at 6'2", 230 pounds. Marc was given the opportunity to stay in the U.S. during the Operation to be with his sick brother but he refused to leave many Brothers for his one Brother. He was killed during a vicious firefight with the enemy while attempting to recover the body of a fallen Navy SEAL, Neil Roberts. Marc left $12,000 to a former student to help pay for her college.
**********
On this date March 4 in 2002 U.S.Army Spec. Marc A. Anderson was killed during the Battle of Takur Ghar, in Afghanistan.
Initially the objective was to establish an observation point on Takur Ghar which commanded views of the Shahi Khowt valley. It would become a day long battle involving Navy SEALs, Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen, 1st Ranger Battalion and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
When the initial MH-47 Chinook helicopter attempted to land troops, the enemy opened up with RPG and heavy machine gun fire. An RPG hit just behind of the cockpit, starting a fire and knocking out electricity, including its miniguns.
The helicopter set down under the cover of depression, but when it lurched to rise again, @USNavy Aviation Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SEAL) Neil Roberts fell from the open ramp.
This helicopter was forced to land 7 miles from the mountain, while the other one attempted rescue. Troops offloaded successfully, and were making good progress toward Roberts, until they made contact with the enemy. During this fight, @AirForce Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, and two SEALs were wounded. As the force broke contact, a quick reaction force was dispatched from Bagram Air Base. Spec. Anderson, as part of the 1st Ranger Battalion was part of this force. With the Rangers were Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen.
Communications difficulties lead to the force being direct to the hot landing zone.The circling C-130 gunship was unaware that more troops were incoming. It departed before they arrived, due to restrictions on day-time operations.
As the first helicopter came in, it also faced intense fire from heavy machine gun, RPG and small arms. The door gunner was killed, and both pilots seriously injured. The helicopter crash landed, troops exiting the ramp. Three rangers were killed exiting the aircraft, Pfc. Matt Commons, Sgt Brad Crose died on the helicopter ramp. Anderson died inside the helicopter.
The second helicopter offloaded it's Rangers further down the mountain, but they were blocked halfway to the other group when they encountered an enemy bunker. In the first use of a Predator UAV in combat, it launched a Hellfire missile collapsing the bunker.
14 Rangers were then able to clear the mountain, struggling through knee deep snow. At 8 p.m. that night, all were evacuated. The battle had lasted 18 hours.
Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, who was killed in a counterattack, Chapman and Tech Sgt. Keary Miller were awarded the Air Force Cross. In 2008 Chapman and Senior Chief Special Operator (SEAL) Britt Slabinki were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Anderson attended Florida State University, excelling in track and field. At 6'2" 230 lbs., the Alliance, Ohio native competed in hammer throw, shot put, and discus, in addition to playing football.
He graduated with a degree in math and teaching and had been teaching math in Fort Myers, Florida before he joined the Army to pay off his college debt.
He left $12,000 to a former student to help them pay for college.
Specialist Marc Anthony Anderson is interred at Florida National Cemetery. He was 30.
*Additional bio information courtesy of Find A Grave contributor George Bacon.
**********
On this date March 4 in 2002 U.S.Army Spec. Marc A. Anderson was killed during the Battle of Takur Ghar, in Afghanistan.
Initially the objective was to establish an observation point on Takur Ghar which commanded views of the Shahi Khowt valley. It would become a day long battle involving Navy SEALs, Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen, 1st Ranger Battalion and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
When the initial MH-47 Chinook helicopter attempted to land troops, the enemy opened up with RPG and heavy machine gun fire. An RPG hit just behind of the cockpit, starting a fire and knocking out electricity, including its miniguns.
The helicopter set down under the cover of depression, but when it lurched to rise again, @USNavy Aviation Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SEAL) Neil Roberts fell from the open ramp.
This helicopter was forced to land 7 miles from the mountain, while the other one attempted rescue. Troops offloaded successfully, and were making good progress toward Roberts, until they made contact with the enemy. During this fight, @AirForce Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, and two SEALs were wounded. As the force broke contact, a quick reaction force was dispatched from Bagram Air Base. Spec. Anderson, as part of the 1st Ranger Battalion was part of this force. With the Rangers were Air Force combat controllers and pararescuemen.
Communications difficulties lead to the force being direct to the hot landing zone.The circling C-130 gunship was unaware that more troops were incoming. It departed before they arrived, due to restrictions on day-time operations.
As the first helicopter came in, it also faced intense fire from heavy machine gun, RPG and small arms. The door gunner was killed, and both pilots seriously injured. The helicopter crash landed, troops exiting the ramp. Three rangers were killed exiting the aircraft, Pfc. Matt Commons, Sgt Brad Crose died on the helicopter ramp. Anderson died inside the helicopter.
The second helicopter offloaded it's Rangers further down the mountain, but they were blocked halfway to the other group when they encountered an enemy bunker. In the first use of a Predator UAV in combat, it launched a Hellfire missile collapsing the bunker.
14 Rangers were then able to clear the mountain, struggling through knee deep snow. At 8 p.m. that night, all were evacuated. The battle had lasted 18 hours.
Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, who was killed in a counterattack, Chapman and Tech Sgt. Keary Miller were awarded the Air Force Cross. In 2008 Chapman and Senior Chief Special Operator (SEAL) Britt Slabinki were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Anderson attended Florida State University, excelling in track and field. At 6'2" 230 lbs., the Alliance, Ohio native competed in hammer throw, shot put, and discus, in addition to playing football.
He graduated with a degree in math and teaching and had been teaching math in Fort Myers, Florida before he joined the Army to pay off his college debt.
He left $12,000 to a former student to help them pay for college.
Specialist Marc Anthony Anderson is interred at Florida National Cemetery. He was 30.
*Additional bio information courtesy of Find A Grave contributor George Bacon.
